15 May 2024 14:54:47
So Paul Joyce reporting that Klopp wanted to keep Matip this summer, surely a bizarre decision if true.
15 May 2024 15:03:44
What do you mean by ‘bizarre’?
15 May 2024 15:20:44
I’d still keep him. What’s the options? We not going to buy a cb. His experience has been missed.
15 May 2024 15:37:01
John, we've got a 22 year old CB in Sepp Van den Berg who grew up with the Dutch style of play and has just had a superb season at Mainz. We'd be mental not to give him a chance next season under Slot. Virgil will need rotating more and more going forward and Matip can't be relied on to be fit, nor can Konate.
15 May 2024 15:38:51
Bizarre in that he’s very injury prone and is still recovering from a very serious long term injury, he’s well into his 30’s so is only likely to have further injury issues and is on a very high salary. Would also be a waste of a non home grown space on a player who spends significant time on the treatment table rather than on the pitch, like Keita and Thiago. As good as Matip has been (and there is absolutely no denial he has been a very good player), we can’t offer a contract on the basis of sentimentality.
15 May 2024 16:31:12
Love Jurgen but have to admit I thought it would have been crazy too.
15 May 2024 16:39:48
IF Mati had stayed fit this season then I would have no hesitation in wanting him to stay but the guy has missed a lot of the season. It’s unfortunate as I really like the player but you can’t keep flogging a dead horse. He needs to move on and best of luck to him.
15 May 2024 17:24:02
Don’t understand why anyone would ask Klopp really when he’s already resigned.
{Ed002's Note - They work on considering players year around.
15 May 2024 18:24:00
I think that's its best for all that Matip is moved on,
at his peak, he was a fantastic defender, but now, he is better at a club in a lower league,
I agree with Big Virg being rotated, he is making errors now, and his age and past injury says that he needs more rest and recovery .
its really important that we do sign a quality centre back, left footed if possible .
15 May 2024 18:44:14
I think klopps finished. Imo he's past his best. Unless he goes to Madrid full of superstars when IF he were to sign he'd do well. Anywherelse he's getting found out. He's been making terrible decisions these past 3 years and it's cost us. He's forgotten what made him successful as a manager and his style of play.
15 May 2024 19:13:22
Unfortunately Klopp has a number of crucial blind spots that another season may turn fans against him / sour his relationship. I now think it’s a good time for him to leave and give someone else a go.
15 May 2024 19:27:46
Virgil Van Dijk is going to want to play the majority of games, whether for us or any of the top teams on the planet. Think people should be careful what they wish for.
15 May 2024 17:30:23
Ok that’s a fair point, I thought it was a recent revelation. ?.
15 May 2024 17:37:32
Matip's contribution to the squad morale and feel-good factor is undeniable. He may be the most popular player in the current squad. Much would have come down to wages, although its all conjecture now, anyway.
Ed's, do you still believe SVDB will not get a chance, as you had stated previously?
{Ed002's Note - The new coach may give him a chance in preseason.}
15 May 2024 19:46:34
What Virgil wants and what his body is capable aren’t going to be the same thing forever. At some point we will have to manage his game time to ensure he’s in top condition when in matters. Even the greats like Terry, Vidic, Ramos and Thiago Silva slowed down eventually.
15 May 2024 20:10:26
Slot was a coach at PEC Zwolle when Van der berg was coming through their youth system wasn’t he? Hopefully he’ll want to give one of his old boys chance.
15 May 2024 21:09:12
Matip was the first choice partner for Virgil. Let him move on and bring in a new partner.
15 May 2024 22:26:59
Svdb, You want to bring him back from a team he doing well at to play every now and then for us? Yeh he going to be chomping at the bit.
15 May 2024 22:40:17
@VV - I happen to agree with you (and most others) that it’s time for Matip to move on. That wan’t the point of the question. Klopp’s track record with a number of players - Millie, Hendo, VVD, Adrian and even Matip himself, as examples - is that he values contributions to the squad as part of his assessment of a person’s worth to the club and not just to the ‘ideal’ starting 11.
The fact that he has been doing this at the club for almost a decade (and at his previous club) would seem to say that is is normal behaviour and not ‘bizarre’ at all, which is why I asked the question.
16 May 2024 00:27:51
Seem to remember Klopp saying that the club needed to do right by Matip and reward him w a new contract just after his latest injury. So I don't think it's surprising to hear that Klopp wanted to renew. Sentiment 101 but for me it's time. Injury record etc just not a wise move. I don't see that he'll have an issue getting a chance at a new club. He's been great for us but sentiment has cost us before.
16 May 2024 08:35:52
Not sure I saw Matip’s contribution to the club outside of starting 11 helping us out over the last few months.
16 May 2024 10:47:15
Agreed that Matip should be moved on. There's no real benefit to keeping him any longer.
But the one thing I feel I need to say is that part about him being "well into his 30s". He'll be turning 33 this year and that's still objectively his early-thirties. Maybe past his prime in footballing terms but still not that old.
16 May 2024 11:16:40
Depends what the narrative is I suppose.
16 May 2024 13:41:28
We now have grammar policing on here, where does it end.
16 May 2024 13:51:01
If Klopp was at City he’d still have Sterling and Sane out wide. Laporte at the back and ancient David Silva in midfield. World class manager but far too loyal and unable to let go.
16 May 2024 13:51:54
More concerned about Joyce coming out with more hit pieces on Klopp and his flawed recruitment choices. Even if it is true, what is the value in these pieces now that he is off?
16 May 2024 13:59:54
Might have to ask nike to change the red of Liverpool to a shade of oranje at this rate with the amount of Dutch players we could have on the books . That was one thing that shocked me in klopps tenure the lack of Germans in the team .
16 May 2024 21:36:58
@Mcgoveb, it ends with a full stop, of course.
I assume you mean the questioning of the word ‘bizarre’? If so then you have simply misunderstood the question wasn’t about grammar.